Method and apparatus for dropping a pump down plug or ball

Abstract

An improved method and apparatus for dropping a ball, plug or dart during oil and gas well operations (e.g., cementing operations) employs a specially configured tool body assembly having valving members (e.g., safety or kelly values) and valving members holding plugs, balls, or darts to be dropped. In one embodiment, the ball(s), dart(s) or plug(s) are contained in a sliding sleeve that shifts position responsive to valve rotation. An optional indicator indicates to a user or operator that a ball or plug has passed a selected one of the valving members. A transmitter (or transceiver) provides an ability to generate a wireless signal that is received by receivers (or transceivers) on the tool body assembly. Each receiver (or transceiver) controls an electrical actuator that engages a valving member or the indicator. Wireless signals can be used to open or close a valve or to reset a “tripped” indicator.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A ball and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well tubing, comprising:
 a) a tool body assembly having upper and lower ends, an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, and an outlet at its lower end; 
 b) a flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet; 
 c) the tool body having a swivel having a cement inlet, a rotating portion and a non rotation portion; 
 d) the tool body having a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions, at least one valving member being positioned below the swivel; 
 e) the flow channel being configured to enable fluid to bypass a selected valving member when the selected valving member is in the closed position; 
 f) wherein fluid flow flows around the valving member when it is in the closed position and through the valving member when it is in the open position; 
 g) wherein in the open position each valve flow bore permits a ball or plug to pass therethrough, and circulating fluid to pass downwardly therethrough; 
 h) a plurality of said valving members having electrical actuators that enable movement of the valving member between open and closed positions; 
 i) a transmitter having switches that when switched, send a wireless signal to the tool body assembly that enables a selected valve to be opened or closed; 
 j) the tool body having receivers electrically interfaced with the actuators, at least one said receiver being positioned above the rotating portion of the swivel and at least one said receiver being positioned below said rotating portion of said swivel; and 
 k) the tool body having at least one well control safety valve that is movable between open flow and closed flow positions and wherein the said well control safety valve is not one of said valving members having a fluid flow channel that enables fluid to bypass the said safety valve when the safety valve is in a closed flow position. 
 
     
     
       2. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 1 , wherein the well control safety valve is a kelly valve. 
     
     
       3. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 2 , wherein the well control safety valve is positioned above the swivel. 
     
     
       4. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 2 , wherein the well control safety valve is positioned below the swivel. 
     
     
       5. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 1 , wherein there are at least two well control safety valves. 
     
     
       6. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 5 , wherein one well control safety valve is positioned above the swivel and the other well control safety valve is below the swivel. 
     
     
       7. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 1 , wherein the well control safety valve can be moved from the open to the closed position in a time interval of between about three and fifteen seconds. 
     
     
       8. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 1 , wherein the well control safety valve can be closed wherein the pressure flowing through the valve is between 100 and 2200 pounds per square inch (p.s.i.). 
     
     
       9. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 1 , wherein the receivers include a primary receiver and a pair of secondary receivers, one said receiver being located above the swivel. 
     
     
       10. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 9 , wherein one receiver is below the swivel. 
     
     
       11. A ball and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well tubing, comprising:
 a) a tool body assembly having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, and an outlet generally aligned with the inlet; 
 b) the tool body assembly having a flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet, the flow channel including an inner channel and an outer channel; 
 c) the tool body assembly including a swivel with rotating and non-rotating portions; 
 d) a plurality of valving members spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valving member having a flow bore, and being movable between open and closed positions; 
 e) the outer channel enabling fluid to bypass a valving member when a valving member is in the closed position; 
 f) wherein fluid flow flows around the valving member via the outer channel when the valving member is in the closed position and through the valving member via the inner channel when the valve is in the open position; 
 g) wherein each valving member is configured to support a ball or plug when the valving member is closed; 
 h) wherein in the open position each valve flow bore permits a ball or plug to pass therethrough, and circulating fluid to pass downwardly therethrough; 
 i) an indicator that extends to the outer surface at the tool body, the indicator being movable between first and second positions, wherein the second position indicates to a user that a moving ball or plug has passed the indicator; 
 j) wherein at least one of the valving members is a well control kelly valve; 
 k) a wireless communication system that includes a transmitter, multiple receivers on the tool body assembly, multiple actuators that are each engaged with a valving member, and wherein signals from the transmitter and received by a said receiver enable a selected valving member to be moved between opened and closed positions. 
 
     
     
       12. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 11 , wherein the indicator includes a lever arm. 
     
     
       13. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 12 , wherein the indicator lever arm extends through a slot in the tool body. 
     
     
       14. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 11 , wherein the indicator includes a shaft and an arm on the shaft. 
     
     
       15. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 11 , wherein the indicator has projecting and recessed positions. 
     
     
       16. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 11 , wherein the indicator has a part that extends into the tool body assembly main flow channel. 
     
     
       17. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 11 , wherein the indicator arm extends diagonally into the main flow channel. 
     
     
       18. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 11 , wherein the body has a working torque of 50,000 foot pounds. 
     
     
       19. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 18 , wherein the body has a working torque of 50,000 foot pounds in either of two rotational directions. 
     
     
       20. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 11 , wherein there are multiple valving members that enable fluid flow around the valving member when the said valving member is in the closed position. 
     
     
       21. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 11 , wherein a signal from the transmitter and received by a said receiver moves the indicator between tripped and reset positions. 
     
     
       22. A method of dropping one or more balls or plugs into a well tubing, comprising the steps of:
 a) providing a tool body assembly having upper and lower ends, an inlet at said upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an outlet at said lower end generally aligned with the inlet, a flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet, a plurality of valves spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valve having a valving member and a valve flow bore, each valving member being movable between open and closed positions and a cementing swivel placed above at least one said valving member, the cementing swivel having a flow inlet that enables intake of a fluid cement slurry; 
 b) flowing fluid around a valving member when a valving member is in the closed position and through a valve bore when the valving member is in the open position; 
 c) supporting a ball or plug with a valving member when the valving member is closed; 
 d) permitting a ball or plug to pass a valving member when the valving member is open; 
 e) indicating to a user that a ball or plug has passed a valving member, wherein an indicator visually moves from an original position to a tripped position; and 
 f) using a wireless signal to operate an electrical actuator that is affixed to a valving member to selectively open or close a said valving member. 
 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22  further comprising using a wireless signal to operate an electrical actuator affixed to the indicator to move the indicator from the tripped position to an original, reset position. 
     
     
       24. The method of  claim 22  wherein in step “g” a transmitter has multiple switches and further comprising using a selected first switch to open or close a first valving member and using a selected second switch to open or close a second valving member. 
     
     
       25. The method of  claim 24  wherein there are two valving members having a ball or plug contained above it when the valving member is closed. 
     
     
       26. The method of  claim 25  wherein an upper valving member cannot be opened with a switch if a lower valving member has not already discharged its ball or plug. 
     
     
       27. The method of  claim 22  further comprising the step of using a wireless signal to operate an actuator that resets the indicator to the original reset position. 
     
     
       28. A ball and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well tubing, comprising:
 a) a tool body assembly having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an outlet generally aligned with the inlet; 
 b) a main flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet; 
 c) the tool body having a swivel having a cement inlet, the swivel having a rotating and a non rotation portion; 
 d) the tool body having a plurality of valves spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valve having a valving member and a flow bore, said valving member being movable between open and closed positions, at least one said valve being positioned below the swivel; 
 e) one or more fluid flow channels that enable fluid to bypass the valving members when a valving member is in the closed position; 
 f) wherein fluid flow in the main channel flows around the valving member when the valving member is in the closed position and through the valve bore when the valving member is in the open position; 
 g) wherein in the open position each valve flow bore permits a ball or plug to pass therethrough, and circulating fluid to pass downwardly therethrough; 
 h) a plurality of said valving members having electrical actuators that enable movement of the valving member between open and closed positions; 
 i) a transmitter having switches that when switched, send a wireless signal to the tool body assembly that enables a selected valving member to be opened or closed; 
 j) the tool body having receivers electrically interfaced with the actuators, at least one said receiver being positioned above the rotating portion of the swivel and at least one said receiver being positioned below said rotating portion of said swivel; and 
 k) the tool body having at least one well control safety valve that is movable between open flow and closed flow positions and wherein said safety valve is not one of the valves having a fluid flow channel that enables fluid to bypass the said safety valve when the safety valve is in a closed position. 
 
     
     
       29. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 28 , wherein the well control safety valve is a kelly valve. 
     
     
       30. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 28 , wherein there are at least two well control safety valves. 
     
     
       31. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 30 , wherein one well control safety valve is positioned above the swivel and the other well control safety valve is below the swivel. 
     
     
       32. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 28 , wherein the well control safety valve is positioned above the swivel. 
     
     
       33. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 28 , wherein the well control safety valve is positioned below the swivel. 
     
     
       34. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 28 , wherein the well control safety valve can be moved from the open to the closed position in a time interval of between about three and fifteen seconds. 
     
     
       35. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 28 , wherein the well control safety valve can be closed wherein the pressure flowing through the valve is between 100 and 2200 pounds per square inch (p.s.i.). 
     
     
       36. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 28 , wherein the receivers include a primary receiver and a pair of secondary receivers, one above the swivel. 
     
     
       37. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 36 , wherein one receiver is above the swivel and one receiver is below the swivel. 
     
     
       38. A method of dropping one or more balls or plugs into a well tubing, comprising:
 a) providing a tool body assembly having an inlet at its upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with a top drive, an outlet below the inlet, a flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet, a plurality of valves spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valve having a valving member and a flow bore, and each valving member being movable between open and closed positions and a cementing swivel placed above at least one said valve and below another said valve, the cementing swivel having a flow inlet that enables intake of fluid that includes cement; 
 b) flowing fluid around a valving member when a valving member is in the closed position and through the valving member when the valving member is in the open position; 
 c) supporting a ball or plug with a said valving member when closed; 
 d) permitting a ball or plug to pass a said valving member when open; 
 e) using a wireless signal to operate any of multiple electrical actuators, each actuator affixed to a said valving member to selectively open or close either said valving member above the swivel or a said valving member below the swivel. 
 
     
     
       39. The method of  claim 38  further comprising an indicator that indicates that a ball or plug has been dropped by a said valving member and using a wireless signal to operate the indicator to move the indicator from a ball or dart dropped indicated position to an original, reset position. 
     
     
       40. The method of  claim 39  wherein there are two valving members having a ball or plug contained above it when the valving member is closed. 
     
     
       41. The method of  claim 38  wherein in step “e” a transmitter has multiple switches and further comprising using a selected first switch to open or close a first valving member and using a selected second switch to open or close a second valving member. 
     
     
       42. The method of  claim 41  wherein an upper valving member cannot be opened with a switch if a lower valving member has not already discharged its ball or plug. 
     
     
       43. The method of  claim 38  wherein there are more valves below the swivel than there are above the swivel and further comprising the step of not opening a selected valving member to drop a ball or plug unless all of the valving members below the said selected valving member have dropped any supported ball or plug. 
     
     
       44. A ball and plug dropping head for use in sequentially dropping one or more balls and plugs into a well tubing, comprising:
 a) a tool body assembly having an upper end adapted to be fluidly connected in line with the lower end of a top drive, an inlet, and an outlet generally aligned with the inlet; 
 b) a flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet; 
 c) the tool body having a swivel having a cement inlet, a rotating portion and a non rotating portion; 
 d) the tool body having a plurality of valves spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valve having a valving member and a flow bore, and said valving member being movable between open and closed positions, at least one valving member being positioned below the swivel; 
 e) the flow channel being configured to enable fluid to bypass the valving members when a valving member is in the closed position; 
 f) wherein fluid flow flows around the valving member when the valving member is in the closed position and through the valving member when the valving member is in the open position; 
 g) wherein in the open position each valve flow bore permits a ball or plug to pass therethrough; 
 h) wherein in the open position fluids are able to pass downwardly through the valve flow bore; 
 i) a plurality of said valving members having actuators that enable movement of the valving member between open and closed positions; 
 j) a transmitter that sends a wireless signal to the tool body assembly that enables a selected valve to be opened or closed; and 
 k) the tool body having receivers interfaced with the actuators, there being at least two said receivers, at least one said receiver being positioned below said rotating portion of said swivel. 
 
     
     
       45. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 44 , further comprising at least one well control safety valve connected to the tool body. 
     
     
       46. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 45 , wherein there are at least two well control safety valves connected to the tool body. 
     
     
       47. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 46 , wherein one well control safety valve is positioned above the swivel and the other well control safety valve is below the swivel. 
     
     
       48. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 45 , wherein the well control safety valve is positioned above the swivel. 
     
     
       49. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 45 , wherein the well control safety valve is positioned below the swivel. 
     
     
       50. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 45 , wherein the well control safety valve can be moved from the open to the closed position in a time interval of between about three and fifteen seconds. 
     
     
       51. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 45 , wherein the well control safety valve can be closed wherein the pressure flowing through the valve is between 100 and 2200 pounds per square inch (p.s.i.). 
     
     
       52. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 44 , wherein the receivers include a primary receiver and a pair of secondary receivers, one above the swivel. 
     
     
       53. The ball and plug dropping head of  claim 52 , wherein one receiver is positioned above the swivel and one receiver is positioned below the swivel. 
     
     
       54. A method of dropping one or more balls or plugs into a well tubing, comprising:
 a) providing a tool body assembly having an upper end adapted to be fluidly connected to the lower end of a top drive, an inlet, an outlet below the inlet, a flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet, a plurality of valves spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valve having a moving valving member and a valve flow bore, and each valving member being movable between open and closed positions, and a cementing swivel placed above at least one said valving member, wherein the cementing swivel has a flow inlet that enables intake of a cement slurry; 
 b) flowing fluid around a valving member when a valving member is in the closed position and through the valving member when the valving member is in the open position; 
 c) supporting a ball or plug with a valving member when the valving member is closed; 
 d) permitting a ball or plug to pass a valving member when the valving member is open; 
 e) indicating to a user that a ball or plug has passed a valving member, wherein an indicator visually moves from an original position to a tripped position; and 
 f) using a wireless signal to operate an actuator that resets the indicator to the original reset position. 
 
     
     
       55. The method of  claim 54  wherein step “f” includes using a wireless signal to operate an electrical actuator affixed to the indicator to move the indicator from the tripped position to an original, reset position. 
     
     
       56. The method of  claim 55  wherein a transmitter has multiple switches and further comprising using a selected first switch to open or close a first valving member and using a selected second switch to open or close a second valving member. 
     
     
       57. The method of  claim 56  wherein there are two valving members having a ball or plug contained above the said valving member when the valving member is closed. 
     
     
       58. The method of  claim 57  wherein an upper valving member cannot be opened with a switch if a lower valving member has not already discharged a said ball or plug. 
     
     
       59. A method of dropping one or more balls or plugs or darts into a well tubing, comprising:
 a) providing a tool body assembly having an inlet and an outlet positioned to receive fluid flow from the inlet, a flow channel that connects the inlet and the outlet, a plurality of valves spaced between the inlet and the outlet, each valve having a valving member and a flow bore, and each valving member being movable between open and closed positions, a cementing swivel placed above at least one said valving member and below another said valving member, wherein the cementing swivel has a flow inlet that enables intake of a cement slurry; 
 b) flowing fluid around a valving member when a valving member is in the closed position and through the valving member when the valving member is in the open position; 
 c) supporting a ball or plug with a said valving member when the valving member is in the closed position; 
 d) permitting a ball or plug to pass a said valving member when the valving member is in the open position; 
 e) using a wireless signal to operate any of multiple actuators, each actuator affixed to a said valving member, wherein at least one actuator is above the swivel and at least one actuator is below the swivel. 
 
     
     
       60. The method of  claim 59  further comprising providing an indicator that indicates that a ball or plug has been dropped by a said valving member and using a wireless signal to operate the indicator to move the indicator from a ball or plug or dart dropped indicated position to an original, reset position. 
     
     
       61. The method of  claim 60  wherein there are two valving members having a ball or plug contained above the said valving member when the valving member is closed. 
     
     
       62. The method of  claim 59  wherein in step “e” a transmitter has multiple switches and further comprising using a selected first switch to open or close a first valving member and using a selected second switch to open or close a second valving member. 
     
     
       63. The method of  claim 62  wherein an upper valving member cannot be opened with a switch if a lower valving member has not already discharged a said ball or plug. 
     
     
       64. The method of  claim 59  wherein there are more valving members below the swivel than there are above the swivel and further comprising the step of not opening a selected valving member to drop a ball or plug or dart unless all of the valving members below that selected valving member have dropped any supported ball or plug or dart associated therewith.